We arrived at my backyard and decided to enjoy some alone time by the bench facing mom's garden.
"Really?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. The surprise mixed with a flicker of hope made my heart race.
"Yes, absolutely. If your dream is to be beta, I'd never stand in your way," he said firmly, his eyes holding mine. "You've always wanted this, and you deserve it. It's what you've trained for."
The weight of his words sank in, and I felt a swell of gratitude and confusion. "But what about the mate bond?" I hesitated, biting my lip. "I mean, it complicates things."
He took a deep breath, looking more serious. "I know it does, but just because we're mates doesn't mean you can't pursue your own path. You can still be my beta and I'll always support you. That doesn't change what we have."
I felt a warmth spread through me, but it was accompanied by the knot of uncertainty in my stomach. "You're really okay with that? With me choosing to focus on being beta?"
He nodded, a soft smile breaking across his face. "Of course. You're amazing, Adi. And I'd be proud to have you by my side as my beta." His hand squeezed mine reassuringly, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and fear.
"What if it doesn't work out?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly. "What if I can't handle the pressure?"
"Then we'll figure it out together," he said, unwavering. "You're not alone in this. I'll always be here, no matter what. And if you decide to reject the mate bond after your training, I'll accept that. I just want you to be happy and fulfilled."
Hearing him say that made my heart ache in the best way. I had dreamed of fighting alongside him, of being a vital part of the pack's strength. The idea of being his beta felt exhilarating, but the thought of rejecting him, of stepping away from that bond, was terrifying.
"Clark, I—" I started, but the words caught in my throat.
Before I could finish, he gently cupped my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. "We have time to figure this out, okay? Just focus on your training for now. Let's talk to my dad and the alpha together."
I nodded slowly, his reassurance calming the storm within me. "Okay, I'll do it. I'll finish my training. But I'm still scared."
"I know," he said softly. "But you're stronger than you think. And I'll be right beside you, every step of the way."
In that moment, something shifted between us. It was more than just the bond of mates; it was a promise of support and understanding. I felt lighter, the burden of my fears lessened by his presence.
As we sat there, I took a deep breath, allowing the warmth of the morning sun to wash over me. The shadows of the night were fading, and with them, my doubts. I was ready to embrace whatever lay ahead, alongside Clark.
I felt a surge of hope mixed with disbelief. "But what about the whole mate thing? Aren't you supposed to want me to be by your side as Luna?"
He shook his head. "Being Luna doesn't mean you can't also be my beta. The pack needs a strong beta, and I want you in that role. We can figure out the mate bond later. Right now, it's about your dreams."
My mind was racing. Could I really pursue this path without losing him? "And if I decide to reject the mate bond after training?" I asked, my voice trembling.
He took a deep breath. "Then I'll accept it. I'd rather see you thrive as the beta you've always wanted to be than hold you back because of some bond."
I searched his face, looking for any hint of insincerity, but there was none. "You really mean that?"
"Of course I do," he said, his grip on my hand tightening. "You've always been meant for greatness, Adi. I can't stand in your way just because of what's expected."
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. "You make it sound so easy."
"Nothing worth having ever is," he said gently. "But I'll be right here with you, every step of the way."
In that moment, the fear that had weighed so heavily on my shoulders began to lift. The thought of being his beta felt more real and achievable than ever. "Okay, let's talk to your dad. I want to make this happen."
"Good," he smiled, the warmth in his expression making my heart flutter. "Let's go."
"How about our families... what would they say?" I began, but before I could finish, he cupped my face in his hands and said, "I'll handle our parents. The rest of the pack doesn't need to know anything." He pulled away, a smirk playing on his lips. "Besides... anything can happen between now and after your training."
"Shut up, Clark," I replied, playfully pushing him off the bench. He landed on the ground with an "umph," and I burst into laughter at his shocked expression—wide eyes and an open mouth. "What, you didn't think I could take you?" I teased, folding my arms over my chest.
"You did not just do that!" he said, chuckling. In a flash, he was back on his feet. I quickly darted around the other side of the bench, and he took off after me, both of us laughing. As I rounded the bench for the third time, he leaped over it. I turned to flee toward the house, shrieking with laughter.
"Oh no, you're not getting away!" I heard him shout behind me. I was just a few meters from the back door when I suddenly felt him tackle me to the ground. Before I could hit face-first, he spun me around, and my back landed on something soft. I heard a groan from beneath me and realized he was the one on the ground.
I turned around and wrapped my legs around his waist. I knew he had spun me to save me from a faceplant, but now he was gasping for air beneath my added weight.
"Are you okay?" I asked, fanning his face with my hands. I brushed his red locks out of his eyes to see him squinting in pain. "Why did you do that? I could've taken the fall! Now look at you—with my weight on top." I shook my head as I helped him sit up.
I pulled him close, resting his head against my chest while I rubbed his back. He stopped groaning and placed his hands on my thighs, pulling me closer as I focused on getting the pebbles and grass out of his hair and checking if he had hit the back of his head.
I was still mumbling something along the line of 'you're so stupid...don't do that again...you could really get hurt...blah blah blah', then I felt his breathe on my neck and his hands moved to my waist under the shirt. I gasped at the tingling sensation his touch has on my body. I can hear him inhale loudly breathing in my scent, his nose on the crock of my neck. His touch was so alluring to my senses that I felt my body heat up and a moan escaped my lips. I can't have these feelings; I can't feel this way...I can't. I couldn't finish my thoughts. My fingers were already in his hair keeping him closer to me...not wanting to let him go. When he kissed my neck the sparks from his lips traveled straight down between my legs, which are now tighten around him straddling him. F*** stupid mate bond...stupid hormones. I had no idea how long we were on the ground just holding on to each other refusing to let go.
I heard someone cough and looked up to see my family and Camilla smirking down at us. Oh crap. We both let go and jumped to our feet, quickly dusting grass and pebbles off our clothes.
"You know, honey, we have about four unoccupied rooms in this house," my mom said, breaking the awkward silence with a smirk at our now-red faces. Camilla scanned my outfit and remarked, "Hmph... so much for not wanting to be Luna," chuckling to herself. I moved toward her, ready to cover her mouth to shut her up, but she bolted inside, laughing.
"Come in, son... breakfast is ready," I heard my dad call out.
